The Organized Home Project (OHP)

The Mission

It is my mission this year to create a fully livable, organized home. As, I go through I will be tracking my project here.

The Problem

What I have always had a problem with is trying to get organized throughout all the chaos. I know this piece goes in the bedroom, but when I try to put it there, its spot is taken up by other junk. So, the piece goes next to its spot and the process continues until nothing is in the correct spot and there are piles of junk in every room. 

Problem number two is simply there is too much stuff. Too much, "this is nice and I might use it." Too much, "sure, I will take it." Too much, "I will use this eventually, I need to keep it". Phrases like these result in an overload of things that ruin my simplistic lifestyle I want to live.

First Thing's First

So, the first step in my process is removing all the junk, from everywhere. I am lucky enough to have two living rooms, one of which we never use. The first thing I have done is move all the junk into that one room. Everything. Everywhere. If it doesn't belong, if it isn't organized, if it needs to be organized, it goes in this room. Now, I know this method will not work for everyone. Not everyone has an extra room they aren't using and this may not be the best solution if you have an active household. But think of this as the large scale. If you are organizing a drawer, dump it out. Work one drawer, one cabinet, or one room at a time, whatever you are comfortable with.

Here is some photo's of the disaster that I have created in step one (and my cat, Wink, mockingly judging the mess):

Baby Step #1

After I removed everything to the room, I, then, began grouping the like items together. And of course tossing things I do not need and separating stuff to give away or sell.

Second is The Best

To eliminate the problem of too much stuff, I plan to give, sell or throw away 30 bags or boxes worth of stuff by the end of March. I believe I have more than the 30 and I am really hoping to surpass the 30, but 30 is the magic number I am shooting for. Why 30? Because I feel it is important to have an arbitrary number and because I believe 30 is a little out of my comfort zone but not so far I can't achieve it. Maybe your number is only 10, maybe its 50. Imagine how much you think you have to get rid of, imagine the space it takes up. How many bags will it take up? now add a few bags, there is your number. Reinforce that number. Keep it on a post it on the door, put it up on the fridge, anything that will keep it in your mind. And KEEP TRACK.

So far we have removed 2 bags of clothing, a broken oven (which I am counting on a box, because it would fill up a box) and 1 box of books. I have tossed 1 bag of papers, and burned 1 box of personal document papers. I, also, have 1 more box of books to go this week. 

Here is the box that is going:

Although it is a little hard to see, it contains about 40 books. So, these aren't little boxes I am talking about. I am talking about removing a lot of stuff.

That is 7 for those of you keeping count. I have 10 more weeks and 23 more bags to go.

Staying Motivated and Keeping the Goals in Mind

If you, like me, need some help with the motivation to toss stuff, watch Hoarders. It will help. Now, I am not suggesting my house, or anyone who is reading this's house is as bad as this show, but remember many of the people on this show are in denial about how bad their house is. I am, also, in denial. I am sure that keeping those few extra papers or storing those cable cords is not going to clutter my house. The truth is I don't need it and its hurting me.

Now, I am not deluding myself. Things take me a long time. I work, have school, have a life. I do not have time or the desire to work on this every day. I know that I can't do the "30 days to change your home" programs. I can't focus on one room at a time. I have my own pace, my own plan. But, I need those deadlines. Giving myself the year will allow me the time I need to get everything done without rushing. Truthfully, I will probably be done early and then I will be proud of myself for beating my deadline. Mini Deadlines, such as my 30 bags by March, makes sure I am actually working on it.